Sam Darnold ready to play; Seahawks without Julian Love for Week 3 at Washington
The Seattle Seahawks will have starting quarterback Sam Darnold back for their Week 3 game at Washington, coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Friday after Darnold practiced fully on Thursday and Friday. Darnold missed last week’s game with a glute injury sustained in the season opener and returned to practice this week before being cleared to play, per the Seahawks’ injury report and Seahawks.com. The report and team statements were published by Seahawks.com senior reporter John Boyle on Sept. 25, 2026.
Rookie running back Jadarian Price also practiced fully on Friday and is “ready to go,” Macdonald said after he was limited earlier in the week. Price exited last Sunday’s win in Arizona early with a chest injury and was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full participation Friday, according to the Seahawks’ report. The full practice week suggests the team expects him to be available for game action.
The Seahawks will be without starting safety Julian Love after he suffered a calf injury Thursday and did not practice both Thursday and Friday, and fellow starting safety Ty Okada will miss a third straight game with a hamstring injury. Macdonald said AJ Finley will join Rodney Thomas II in the starting lineup with Love and Okada out. Nose tackle Brandon Pili, who exited last week’s game with a concussion, was listed as questionable after limited participation Friday; other interior linemen, including Jarran Reed and Uso Seumalo, practiced this week and could see increased snaps if Pili cannot play.
The Washington Commanders listed five players as out for Sunday, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (left elbow), guard Samuel Cosmi (concussion/throat), safety Nick Cross (illness), linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (hamstring). The Commanders’ report noted Marcus Mariota is expected to start in place of Daniels on Sunday. The absence of Daniels and several starters changes Washington’s lineup and figures to alter how the Seahawks prepare defensively for the matchup, per the Commanders’ injury report.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Sam Darnold’s return restores continuity for the Seahawks’ offense after a one-week absence and should allow the team to resume its planned pacing and play-calling. The loss of both starting safeties forces significant adjustments in Seattle’s secondary and places added responsibility on AJ Finley and Rodney Thomas II to steady coverage and run support. Brandon Pili’s questionable status leaves the interior defensive line rotation in flux, and Washington’s shift to Marcus Mariota at quarterback means Seattle will face a different-look signal-caller on Sunday. Overall, the Seahawks enter the game with reinforcements on offense but will need to manage notable defensive adjustments.